Mark Antony (character of Rome)
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| Rome character | |
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| Mark Antony | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mark Antony |
| Class | Plebeian |
| Family | Antonius |
| Allies | Gaius Julius Caesar Atia of the Julii |
| Enemies | Optimates Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Cato the Younger Scipio Cassius Quintus Valerius Pompey Marcus Junius Brutus (ep 1-6, 12) Marcus Tullius Cicero (ep 1-6, 12) |
| Appearances | 1-1 "The Stolen Eagle" 1-2 "How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic" 1-3 "An Owl in a Thornbush" 1-10 "Triumph" 1-11 "The Spoils" 1-12 "Kalends of February" |
| Portrayed by | James Purefoy |
Mark Antony is a historical figure who features as a character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by James Purefoy. The real Mark Antony was a Roman general and politician and a close supporter of Julius Caesar.
[edit] Personality
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[edit] Character history
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[edit] Comparison with the historical Mark Antony
Most of what we know about the historical Mark Antony comes from Plutarch, and his personality in Rome thus far appears to be essentially consistent with what Plutarch has to say about him. He is portrayed as a soldier's soldier, a lover of women, and unfailingly devoted to Caesar. Rome also portrays him as truly despising politics, and lacking tact or subtlety in political matters, which Caesar uses to his advantage.
The antipathy Antony shows for Cicero in, for example, the episode Caesarion is historically attested. The historical Mark Antony held Cicero responsible for the execution of Antony's stepfather, Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura, as part of the Catiline conspiracy. Antony's threat to Cicero about what would happen if he strayed once more accurately foreshadows his fate.
A major difference between the historical Antony and the character as portrayed in Rome during its first season is the absence of his family. The historical Mark Antony had two younger brothers, Lucius and Gaius, both of whom played roles in the events of the time. It is also not mentioned that he was a blood relative of Caesar's through his mother, Julia Antonia, Caesar's cousin. (Despite his mother's heritage, the historical Mark Antony and the character are plebian, as patrician status was passed on by the father only. Mark Antony's father, Marcus Antonius Creticus, was of the Antonius family, which was important and noble, but not patrician. Had Antony been patrician, he could not have been elected as tribune of the plebs.
Further, the Mark Antony of Rome appears to be unmarried, as suggested, by Atia of the Julii's proposal. The historical Mark Antony was married three times prior to his union with Octavia Minor during the second triumvirate, most notably to Fulvia, who he would have married at some point during the events of season 1.
